Blogroll

Archive for June, 2009

My on-stage interview with former U.S. Labor Secretary, current Berkeley professor, and noted mensch Robert B. Reich (who will be appearing in our upcoming Love & Taxes movie) can now be seen — in all its undedited glory — on my website.

Here my “second” video podcast, taken at the Maker Faire in San Mateo on May 31. I use the quote marks because I’ve already posted my “third” podcast. I am not doing this to make the point that our notions of time and space need to be more malleable — actually, wait, I am!

… assuming, that is, that a free-admission event can be described as sold out. I mean that all the seats have been accounted for. Though if you want to take a chance, you can show up at the Ashby Stage on Monday evening: we’re going to release all the seats that haven’t been claimed at 7:15. (The event starts at 7:30.) If you’d like to be added to the waiting list (you’d still have to show up), just drop me an email. Also, if you have a burning question you’d like to suggest for me to ask, you can put it in the “comments” section for this blog item.

One question you might have is, “What event are you talking about, anyhow?” Well, it’s the first in a planned series of free get-togethers to celebrate the continuing progress of Love & Taxes, the new feature film I’m making with my brother Jake. On Monday morning and afternoon, we’ll be filming a scene with Robert B. Reich in which he plays former I.R.S. Commissioner Sheldon S. Cohen. (Perhaps not-so-surprisingly, these two wonderful men are well-acquainted with each other in real life.) Then, in the evening, at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley, after Jake and I introduce a clip from our previous Love & Taxes shoot, I’ll interview Prof. Reich about pressing issues of our day — as well as love and taxes.

Jake has enlisted a terrific crew to videotape the show, and we’ll be posting that video on my website — and perhaps elsewhere as well. Keep watching this space for more details. (And by the way, mad props to our great friends at Shotgun Players, for making the Ashby Stage available and helping us out in their typically generous fashion!)

On Monday I attended a candlelight vigil for Dr. George Tiller, the slain physician from Wichita, Kansas, who had performed late-term abortions (among other vital services). Taking place on the steps of San Francisco City Hall only a day after the murder, the event was tremendously emotional. My friend Lisa Geduldig, a comedienne, had taken on the very serious task of organizing the vigil — and she did a terrific job. This podcast contains excerpts from the proceedings — including, in its entirety, an extraordinary speech by author and mother Ayelet Waldman. For reasons of timeliness — and out of respect for Dr. Tiller — I have posted this “third” podcast before my “second” one (taped a day earlier), which I will post later this week.